Mental Well-Being and Primary Prevention Practices in Women Heads of One-Parent Families

This exploratory study of 47 women heads of one-parent families was undertaken to describe the relationships, over time, between mental well-being (adjustment) and their practice of primary prevention behaviors. Theoretical sampling was used to assure the inclusion of a variety of women from the community. Results indicate that personal characteristics influence mental well-being and primary prevention behaviors. Education and income explain 66% of the variance in mental well-being. It is important for nursing practice to identify those variables that are amenable to change in order to enhance the mental well-being and primary prevention behaviors of women heads of one-parent families.